Freeware Speaking Mandarin-Simplified-Pinyin dictionary

[warrengoff]

Hello...

I have been writing a computer program to help me learn Mandarin. I am a beginner. I've decided to share this tool and make it open source. It is coded in Visual Basic. The pronunciations are available using machine speech (Microsoft's SAPI 5.1) and native tongue by Zhang Juli (http://www.pinyinology.com/index.html.)

Here is the link to the website: http://moosenose.com/speakingpinYin.htm

Realize that to fully utilize this program, one must download and install a few large files. I will be happy to help you with this. If you get a chance, please give me some feedback on the program.

I am working on some additional features. The first is a Pinyin to Simplified converter which will be difficult. I am also working on a speaking conversational program in numbered pinyin. This will be a modification of the Eliza virtual psychiatrist program and will ask and answer questions.

Thanks...

[trance-x]

sounds interesting ...

i have windows xp ...

wenn i try to run your programm i got alerts about missing "comdlg32.ocx" and "mscomctl.ocx" ...

my solution (for ppl who get the same errors) ...

1. http://www.ascentive.com/support/new/support_dll.phtml?dllname=COMDLG32.OCX

=> saving to windowssystem32

2. http://www.ascentive.com/support/new/support_dll.phtml?dllname=MSCOMCTL.OCX

=> saving to windowssystem32

3. dos-shell or "execute" from the "Start" and typing ...

a) regsvr32 comdlg32.ocx

B) regsvr32 mscomctl.ocx

some comments:

1. it was no solution to install "vbrun6x..." (for xp and ...)

2. i miss an installer for an alternative folder (automatically installing in c:(...))

3. zhang juli has some wrong pinyin-tone numbers in his (very nice) pages e.g. "http://www.pinyinology.com/lessons/dialog3.html" (shuo2) ...

hope this helps ...

ok, now i will continue testing ... (and singing a chinese learning song on zhang julis page *g*)

[warrengoff]

I'm just learning how to use the installer and I failed to check self register on the controls. I've fixed that, I hope and the updated version is in place. Please let me know if there is any other problem perhaps stemming from incompetency. When I get the energy, I will remove those external ocx's as I clean up the code.

Sorry to occupy your time generating a work-around. Does the program work for you and if so what do you think I might do to improve it?

Zhang Juli is definitely out there and I haven't quite figured it out. Make sure if you will that the errors, perhaps in pronunciation, on his site are not deliberate measures at romanization. He is proposing changes to the way Mandarin is spoken, as far as I can tell.

BTW, the songs were sort of my idea as I suspect one must almost learn how to sing Chinese with its really cool tonal structure in order to eventually speak. But what do I know, I am a bilingual illiterate : )

...Warren

[Joleen]

My CPU maxes out when trying to load after install. I'm running Win XP Pro and have all updates/packs (except SP2). Install seemed to run fine. Any ideas?

[warrengoff]

A file was missing and I apologise, a mere 1 KB. You may re-download the entire corrected version @ http://www.moosenose.com/Pinny.zip. If you contact me via email, I can attach you the little file as well.

...Warren